UAE, France: Constructive cooperation in the face of terrorism
Relations between Abu Dhabi and Paris are a role model in current international political relations.
This is so due to the reliance of
these relations on the principles of joint action, and the existence of a
unified vision between the leaderships of the two countries on the need to
enhance cooperation and coordination in a number of vital sectors.
This is so also because of the
presence of an absolute belief in the importance of unifying global efforts to
achieve a positive contribution in resolving international conflicts and
establishing peace and security in various regions.
On February 5, the UAE Ministry of
Defense announced the start of activating the joint defense cooperation
agreement between the UAE and France, in the face of failed terrorist attempts.
A day earlier, Major General Saleh al-Ameri,
commander of Joint Operations in the UAE, visited the French Armed Forces Staff
Command in Paris, where he met Major General Philippe Sengara, commander of
French Joint Operations, and Major General Laurent Marbeuf, director of the
International Cooperation Department.
The two sides discussed means of
setting into motion areas of cooperation and joint defense.
French support
French Defense Minister, Florence
Parly, said on Friday that her country would support the UAE in ensuring the
security of its airspace in the face of terrorist attacks by the Houthis.
She wrote on Twitter that her
country would help the UAE, its main ally in the Arab Gulf, in securing its
airspace that is exposed to Houthi attacks.
The UAE, she said, was subjected to
serious attacks on its soil in January.
To show our solidarity with this
friendly country, France decided to provide military support, especially to
protect its airspace from any violations, the French defense chief wrote.
Encouraging attitudes
For his part, Anwar Mohammed
Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the UAE, said distinguished
French support for his country compounds French positions of support to the
UAE.
"Distinguished French positions
in support of the UAE add to friendship with Paris," he wrote on Twitter.
